2015 Volkswagen Jetta – 9 Things You Need to Know

Volkswagen invited us to the picturesque, historical and very horsey green hills of northern Virginia for a preview of the “new” 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. That’s a bit of a stretch. Let’s call it a refresh, although there are some significant upgrades under the sixth-generation Jetta’s conservative clothes, keeping it relevant in the face of entirely redesigned compact cars like the Toyota Corolla, Kia Forte and Mazda3.

And such is the story of this Mexican-built Jetta, which is the automaker’s number one seller in both Canada and the US. It has seen constant improvements since bowing as a 2011 model, and taking heat for a cheap plastic dash, rear drum brakes and torsion-beam rear suspension. Now all Jettas have four-wheel discs, independent rear suspension and, with the exception of the base Trendline trim, a nice dash rendered in soft-touch plastics.

Peter Bleakney

Peter is a Toronto-based auto writer and member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Peter bought his first car when he was 15 — a ferrous 1968 Austin Mini — and learned how to swear while porting the head, installing twin SU carburetors, a header and Thrush muffler.